It’s not often you organise a wedding, so there are no stupid questions. I’m here to make the whole process as easy as possible. If there’s something I haven’t covered below, just get in touch.
Where are you based and do you travel?
I’m based in Cambridge, Waikato, but I’m more than happy to travel.
I mainly work across the Waikato, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and King Country, but I’ve married couples further afield too, including a few trips to Queenstown which I’m never going to complain about.
If your wedding is outside the Waikato, get in touch and I can give you an idea of any additional travel or accommodation costs.
How much do your services cost?
My standard celebrant pricing is:
Friday & Saturday weddings: $1,000 + GST
Sunday to Thursday weddings: $400 + GST
I also offer package pricing if you want me as your celebrant and DJ, or celebrant, MC and DJ.
Any additional travel or accommodation costs will be discussed with you before you book. No surprise invoices afterwards.
Do you have a backup?
Absolutely.
In the unlikely event that I can’t attend your wedding, I have a network of experienced celebrants around New Zealand who I can call on.
COVID taught the wedding industry a few things, and having trusted backup is definitely one of them. I’d only recommend someone I’d be happy having at my own wedding.
How do we apply for a Marriage Licence?
You apply for your marriage licence online through the New Zealand Government.
Your licence needs to be organised before the wedding and is valid for three months. While they can generally be processed fairly quickly, I recommend getting onto it around three weeks before the wedding rather than leaving it until the last minute.
I also recommend ordering your official Marriage Certificate at the same time.
Can we incorporate traditions or rituals into our ceremony?
Of course. No two couples are the same and no two ceremonies should be either. If there are cultural, family or personal traditions you’d like to include, we’ll talk about them and work out how to incorporate them in a way that feels meaningful to you.
How far ahead should we book?
Popular summer dates, particularly Saturdays, can book out 12–18 months in advance.
That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck if your wedding is sooner though. Get in touch and see if I’m available.
Once your date is confirmed and your deposit is paid, we can get the ball rolling.
How does the process work?
First, have a look through some of my ceremony videos and testimonials and see if I’m the sort of celebrant you’re after.
If the vibe seems right, flick me a message and we’ll arrange a meeting, either in person or over Zoom.
Before we meet, I’ll get you both to fill out a questionnaire separately. It gives me a bit of background on you, your relationship and your version of events, which can occasionally be quite different from your partner’s.
When we meet, we’ll talk about your relationship, your wedding and what you want from the ceremony. I’ll then take all of that and write something specifically for you.
No copy and paste jobs with your names dropped into the gaps.
I’ll also guide you through the legal requirements and everything else you need from me leading up to the day.
bbbbbb
Usually around 10–15 minutes.
Long enough to make it personal and meaningful. Short enough that your guests aren't wondering when the bar opens.
We’re shy and don’t want to write our own vows. Can you help?
Absolutely.
Not everyone dreams of pouring their heart out in front of 100 people, and that's completely fine.
I’ve helped plenty of couples with vows that are short, genuine and easy to say while still packing a bit of a punch.
And, if nothing else, it’s your chance to convince Grandma you’re actually quite romantic.
Can we have a wedding rehearsal?
Rehearsals are available on a case-by-case basis.
If your venue is reasonably close to Cambridge and our schedules work, I’m more than happy to come along.
If your venue is further away, we can usually cover everything you need with a detailed run-through over Zoom or phone, and I can give you a step-by-step guide for the ceremony.
I’ve done plenty of weddings without a formal rehearsal and, I promise, people still end up married.
Can you also MC our wedding?
Absolutely.
I actually think having a friend or family member MC can be a great option because they know you and your guests better than anyone.
But MCing is also a job, and sometimes you’d rather let all your guests relax and enjoy themselves. If that's the case, I’m more than happy to take it on for an additional fee.
I also offer a combined Celebrant + MC + DJ package if you want to make things particularly easy.
Do you DJ as well?
Yep.
I’ve been DJing weddings and events for years and offer combined Celebrant + DJ packages.
It means one less supplier to organise and, after marrying you earlier in the day, I already have a pretty good idea who I’m dealing with by the time we hit the dance floor.
Check out my DJ page for packages and pricing.
Do you have preferred wedding vendors?
After more than a decade working around weddings and events, I’ve worked with plenty of venues and vendors throughout the Waikato and beyond.
If you need recommendations, I’m always happy to point you towards people I’ve enjoyed working with.
Can we see examples of your work?
Absolutely. You should know what you’re buying.
Head to my main Marriage Celebrant page to see videos from previous ceremonies and testimonials from couples I’ve worked with.
Do you do weekday weddings?
Absolutely.
Anytime. Anyplace. Anywhere.
Just preferably not Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve.
Do you officiate more than one wedding a day?
No.
When you book me as your celebrant, that day is yours. You don't need to worry about me racing off because I've squeezed another ceremony in two hours later.
Do you marry same-sex couples?
Of course.
To borrow a line from Frank Ocean: marriage is about love and love.
Why did you become a celebrant?
I probably don’t fit the traditional image some people have in their heads when they think “marriage celebrant”, and that's partly why I enjoy it.
I’d already spent years around weddings as a DJ and videographer, along with plenty of time behind microphones through radio, MCing, quiz hosting and acting.
Becoming a celebrant felt like a pretty natural combination of all those things: writing, storytelling, public speaking and people.
Ten years later, I’m still doing it.
Why should we pick you?
Because I care about making your ceremony actually yours.
I despise copy-and-paste ceremonies. If you’re trusting me with one of the biggest moments of your life, I’m going to put the work in to make it personal.
That doesn’t mean it needs to be overly serious or sentimental. I want to find the things that make your relationship what it is, tell your story properly, get a few laughs where they belong and create something that both you and your guests genuinely enjoy.
After 10 years as a celebrant, my philosophy hasn't really changed: I try to be the celebrant I’d want at my own wedding.
Professional, prepared, relaxed, personal and capable of having a laugh.
Basically, I just care heaps. That’s my problem.